Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

Kiba21 sent me a lovely, luscious, drool worthy rendering of our dear Winged Claudius. Take a peek!
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59081849/


Okay, we have another installment of the Epilogue that won’t quit. Here is Part One. Enjoy. I’m crying through Part Two right now, so it might be up later tonight.


Chapter 138: Epilogue – Destination Unknown : Part One

I can’t believe I’m doing this. The countdown to the wedding…okay, technically the civil ceremony that looks a hell of a lot like a wedding was down to the final hours and here I was driving across town to visit Mr. Hemlock Pissypants. The reason for this was propped in the opposite corner of the limo staring out the window. Hades must have broken something aside from flesh and bone when he slapped Liam to the ground.

Sex was annoyed with him. Azrael could give a rat about either of them which left me to deal with the lovelorn. “Are you all right?”

“Just peachy.”

“Did he break anything?”

Laim turned his face toward me. It was purple and blue and puffy. With the paleness of his hair and flesh, it looked absolutely ghastly. It would have looked ghastly either way. “It would have been easier if he did. I have a sub-dermal hemotoma. It feels about as good as it looks. I knew this would happen…eventually. It would have been so much easier if my Honeybee swung both ways.”

“How many other children have you got scattered through the world?”

“Technically, Alexander is Sigmund’s. I had nothing to do with it. Well, I was there but it was Sigmund who went gaga over the country wench. He knew there was a child. Just looking at the baby you could tell he was a Royal blue carrier. He also knew Armanita would kill both of the humans if he laid any claim on them. Alexander said his mother was a whore…but Sigmund paid her handsomely. That tavern was hers. If she slept with men, it was because she wanted to, not out of necessity.”

“How the hell did you two last so long if you don’t talk? It can’t be continuous sex or did you bully him?”

“I have never struck Cillian in anger. He is my precious. But maybe, yeah I bullied him. I was stronger. He did what I said but it was always with a smile on his face. I did come to him when I was with Sigmund. Sigmund fought like hell not to have anything to do with homosexuality. It probably had a lot to do with that Ocanlov demon rape. Dozens had attacked him before Armanita was able to rescue him. Then Cillian fought me off before I could get an explanation out and with Sigmund fighting me..I had no chance. Right after that Sigmund went to hell in a hand basket and I was busy with him.”

Liam turned back to the window. “I am scared, Xavier. Cillian has been a constant in my lives and deaths for nearly a millennium. He doesn’t need me any more to protect him. I miss the way he would cling to me.”

“He moved on. You just watched him.” I leaned forward in the seat. “You think this could be in part that the fact of the matter is that Claudius has been in Hades bed for over two hundred years? While you can argue, there is no direct link from you and him and having children, can’t you see that it’s been like incest. Hades has been having sexual relations with his son for centuries.”

“…and grandson. I can see why he pounded my face into the dirt. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

The limo pulled over to the curb. “You coming in?”

“Think he’ll let me?”

“Well cowering in here isn’t going to let you find out.”

“Since when the hell did you become the expert?”

“Hello? Adding mate number five to my congregation today. Compromise has become a way of life. Just because you got the cojones to say it’s my way or the highway, doesn’t mean you have to use them. I’d rather wake up in a full bed any day.” Which Sex had done. Claudius, Armor, Shade, Snowflake, Haley and Ping had all been sprawled on the bed. The only reason everyone fit was that Shade and Snowflake were red and white kittens. Haley and Ping were wolves and the three remaining vampires were intertwined like grapevines.

Claudius getting to calm was ridiculously easy. He had control of everything almost back to the limo. The huge black wings just glittered out of existence. He slid off Shade, climbed into the limo, sprawled on the seat opposite Sang Kyu and passed out. Then again, he had more control over everything when his wings sprouted. What I was 24 hours old?

“What?”

“You do have a short attention span. Have you ever been tested for AADDs?”

“That would go over well. By the way doctor, I am a multiple personality, which of us has attention deficiency disorder? I’d be slapped into a loony ward before I could say committed.”

“Well you have a point.”

“Let’s do this thing.” I waited for the door to open then headed out. The security guard remembered me from the time Claudius dragged me one armed across the marble floor. “Von Drachenfeld, please.”

I can’t believe the little bastard uses my name.

“There are two here, Sir.”

I gestured for the phone. The security guard hesitated then handed the phone over. “You either let us come up or you get your ass down here, Hades. You are not fucking up my wedding because you’re pissed off at Liam.”

“How could I…fuck up your wedding? I’m not even invited.”

“You’ve shoved me into the spotlight with your nod of support. You not showing up when the rest of the High Council is there is going to lead to more trouble than it’s worth. Up or down, either way we are going to have a face to face.”

“You need to improve your manners, Little Emperor. Come up.” I handed the phone back to the guard and waited until Hades repeated the okay.

Liam waited until we were in the elevator. “What were you saying about cojones?

“I have no doubt that when these doors open again, he is going to hand them to me.”

“Could you give me a little shot of healing, Little Emperor?”

“I want Hades to see what he has done.”

“You could have at least have had aspirins.”

“Oh, stop whining you, big baby. Hades has cracked my melon open a couple of times. You don’t see me crying about it.”

“What?”

Hades met us at the elevator. As I suspected, he had no clue how hard he had smacked Billiam around. He made an involuntary motion with his hand reaching out then caught himself. “I have an icepack in the refrigerator.”

Liam charged past me. “You fractured Xavier’s skull?”

He slammed Hades into the wall directly across from the elevator. For Gods sake. I did a Claudius and wrenched both of them apart by their ear. Since I’ve been hauled around like this, I know how damn painful it is. I marched them to the kitchen. “Sit.” I pushed Liam into a chair. “Get that icepack.” I hurled Hades towards the fridge.

Well at least I had both of their attention. “I’ve have it up to here” I waved above my head, “with you guys. You are the Ancients of the Ancients and you’re acting like horny teenagers…well that was before on the plane, you’re acting like kids in a sandbox and I’m getting tired of getting the sand kicked in my lunch.”

Grey eyes and faded blue ones just stared at me. They had no clue what I was talking about. But they weren’t at each other’s throat. Which was a good thing. Unfortunately, that meant my throat was all exposed and tasty. I yanked out a chair, twisted and squatted on it, resting my head on my forearms across the back of it. “You guys are wearing me out.”

“You fractured Xavier’s skull?”

‘That was back when he was being charming. You know what that’s like.” Hades turned and pulled out an icepack. He wrapped it in a tea towel then handed it over to Liam. “That looks like it hurts.”

“It does.” He winced as he set the pack against his cheek.

“Good.” Hades folded his arms across his chest and glared at Liam, “How many more children do you have waiting to sprout wings?”

“Alexander isn’t mine.”

“You’re saying he’s Sigmund’s?“

“That is what I am saying. Then there was the Blue Cull and I wasn’t going to risk exposing the few sample of the Royal Blue line to Armanita and the Inquisition. You know she would have had no qualms about slicing little Alexander to shreds…just because her lover strayed.” Liam stood up and crossed over to the former Grand Master of Assassins. “Observing isn’t the same as doing, Honeybee.” He shook his arms, “I am grateful that William willingly merged with me but I am so confined. I used to be able to do so much and now I am trapped here.”

“You’ve boosted William’s skills.”

“But this is as far as I can go…until this body burns out, like all the rest. You look the same, except for the hair. I liked it long.”

“More than my hair’s changed, William.”

“Liam.”

“Liam. I’ve changed. I don’t think you respect that. I’m not going to jump just because you snapped your fingers. You can’t make me do that any more. I don’t want to do that either. Same as this.” Liam hissed as Hades reached up and brushed at the blackened and bruised flesh. “I don’t want to do this to you…but you piss me off.”

“Old habits die hard, my little honeybee…but I am trying. I have never asked this of you before.” Liam set the icepack on the counter and lowered himself to one knee. I popped upright. “Please forgive me. To use our grandson’s colorful language, I’ve fucked you over. I didn’t mean to leave you alone that long. I was scared and insecure. I can reshape the world…but I can’t live in it without you. Please, my little shepherd boy, let me back into your life.”

Hades swallowed. “Xavier, could you heal his face? Then get out.”

Whoa. Someone just got lucky. “What about?”

“We’ll be at your marriage. Casual?”

“I have a grey mourning suit.”

“Black tie it is.” I reached over and cradled Liam’s face in my hands. I didn’t have to call on a full healing fire. I just hung onto him until the swelling and the bruising faded.

“This is your second chance. Don’t fuck it up.” I whispered to him. Then I surprised both of them by kissing Liam on the forehead, then I turned and repeated the step with Hades.

“You are my grandparents after all.”

“Yes.” Hades sighed.

“So you know that means a damn big expensive gift on the receiving table. Or a big thick envelope.” I called out as I headed for the elevator.

“Don’t push your luck, Little Emperor!” Liam called still on his knees.

I think he was going to be there for a while. I laughed and headed back down in the elevator to the lobby. Helllloooo Kittyyyy. Claudius was leaning against his Indian all in black leather oblivious to the gawkers and stares of the passersby. His arctic gaze was on me as the elevator doors slid back. He must be feeling better. When I left this morning, he was sacked out cuddling a pillow as Haley curled up against his ass and Snowflake peeked out of his hair.

I know damn well, it ain’t me he’s come across town to see.

“Sasha!” Sex bounded up to the tall leather clad hunk of blue burning love. Claudius caught me before I jumped on him and swung me around in a circle. Our hair flared out behind us as we did this. Probably is if someone looked down from the windows above, they would have saw the yingyang symbol. “You okay to be riding?”

“If you were home when I woke up, you would know how okay I am to be riding.” Randy kitty. Rowwwr. I jumped up on my toes as he brought his head down and we sucked face in the street, in the full sunlight, in full view of the security guard in the lobby. His essence seemed to be more intense, savory. Ooooh, I savored.

There was an ahem behind us. Regretfully, Sasha lowered me back to my feet with a couple of minor…well not minor, minor bulges that needed attention. “Pardon me, Mr. Du Bussey, but I have to ask you to move along.”

Claudius nodded at him. “Tick tock, Fallen. I’ve come to get you ready.”

“Oh, you got me ready.”

He chuckled reached back and handed me my helmut. “We’ve been kicked out of Von Drachenfeld. The bridal party has taken over so we are now at your office at Shadoe Inc. So..we’re meeting everyone there at five o’clock.”

“It’s only three.”

“I know.” Schwing! Oh yeah. Hello randy kitty. Riding on the back of your lover’s bike with a raging erection is a humiliating experience, especially when the ride is a little too stimulating. Then Sasha had the nerve to laugh. I burned my head on his shoulder and hung on to his chest. Thank god we took the private elevator up to his suite.

A mutual shower, with mutual kissing and tongues and tweaking and pulling and…I broke away otherwise I was going to solo again. I got chased from the bathroom and flopped on the king sized mattress. My hair actually made a thwap sound as it hit the comforter. That’s when I noticed, really noticed that Claudius’ hair was extra long--for him. “This seams to be part of the wing gig.”

“I would rather have more hair on my head than let us say, on my back.”

I tried to get up but I was pinned to the mattress with a warm gloriously naked and aroused body. I whispered, “I want to see your wing scars. Did they heal?”

Claudius shifted off me and laid face down on the bed. He had too dark red angry slashes on his back. If I hadn’t witnessed it, it could be explained away as knife wounds. “Have you tried to heal?”

“I was just grateful the wings disappeared. There is too much going on today to experiment.”

“Would you like me to heal you, Father? Or would you like a blood bath.”

“Blood bath. That healing light has a price that must be paid.”

“Go lay in the tub. I don’t want to ruin your bed.” I skipped to the kitchen and scrounged up three blood packs; Two for Father, One for me I climbed into the tub behind him and set my naked ass on his calves. So firm. I groaned as I looked as his golden globes.

“Sex?”

“Dah, pulatzah “

He laughed and dragged his massive mess of hair forward over his shoulder. I used my fangs and ripped open a pack. I set it on his left scar and squeezed the bag, using the thumb of my opposite hand to rub it into the flesh. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “It’s working.” He just twitched slightly when the blood stung, but he lay silence beneath me as I worked. I did the same on the other side. Finally I turned the taps on and reached for the shower head. Carefully, caressingly I washed the blood from him. Instead of being angry red welts, they were now pink and flat. It would probably be soon it would fade to silver. I leaned over and tongued the length of his right scar from his shoulder to his firm, fine delectable ass.

“Sex?” His voice was deeper, slower.

“Pulahazah?” I rang my fang lightly over his rump.

“Here?”

“Bedroom.” I turned off the shower head and climbed off him. I grabbed a warm towel and wrapped him in it when he climbed to feet and stepped out. His jet black hair cascaded down past his waist. I patted his hair somewhat draw paying special attention to the ends because they curled so lovingly around his derriere.

I wanted to bounce my own quarter off that firm ass as he walked away. I contemplated snapping my towel for a brief millisecond. A blue eye flicked back at me. I turned and hurriedly straightened up the bathroom.

I didn’t take long. I know I didn’t take long but somehow the mood had changed. The lighting was dimmed. A few candle burned around the room creating a soft light—a romantic glow. Claudius was lounging against a mountain of pillows, naked. Mouth watering nakedness. He regarded me like a sultan calling forth his most favorite concubine. I thought his hair was fine before, now it trailed everywhere, highlighting the swimmers perfection of his body. Drool ran down my chin.

He beckoned me with one finger. I wiped my slobber off my face and knelt at the edge of the bed. “Dance for me Harem boy.”

“There’s no music.”

“Use the rhythm of life.”

“Akuna Matata?”

“What?”

“No…wait, that was the circle of life.”

‘What?”

“No worries.” I grinned at him and ran my hands along the tops of his feet. My thumbs ghosted over the bottoms. He arced his neck back as I massaged his arches. The line his tense muscles made gave me a little kick to the nether regions. He was sex personified. I snorted as he groaned. I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his right foot. Were my hands traveled, my lips and tongue and fangs followed.

“Is this what you wanted, my Caliph?” I was kneeling between his spread thighs. I ran my palm from the lower curve of his ass up the back of his leg, tickled the back of his knee the hiked his leg higher up to my shoulder. I turned my head and licked at the invisible scar on the back of his calf.

“Not quite.”

I furrowed my brow. He was primed and ready. I reached for his hard pulsing….I was flipped into the pillows and was now staring up at my black haired lover “Ah, yes…this is what I wanted.” Sasha pressed his long lean form up against me. He kissed the locket at my throat then kissed his way up my throat finally giving me a hint of a fang on my lower lip.

“Cinnamon.” He opened his eyes. Blue on blue.

“We sound like a spice rack.”

“If it were possible, I would stick you in a tea caddy.”

Cadillac? Tea Cadillac? I lost all thought as those talented fingers plucked at my nipples.

“Marcus…”

“Marcus? You want Marcus here?”

He nipped my nose. Damn it. “No, I do not want Marcus here. I am just saying that this look likes his work.”

“Actually I picked it out for Azrael and Marcus….uuuuuunnnnnn” I twisted up into his touch.

“Your capacity for giving knows no bounds, Sex. You simply amaze me.” Sasha amazed the hell out of me by rising up and sitting on my waist. His hair tickled my over sensitized flesh and his flame…what can you say about that flame. Then he shocked me by reaching behind him and taking me to task. My throat closed up as I watched him, as I felt him…

“No!” I grabbed at his hips, “We have to prepare.”

“Done that.” He groaned as I felt his heat engulf me easily, slippery. Oh…My….ggggaaaaaaaahhhhh. I have never seen him look so decadent. I grit my teeth. I was going out of my head. I lay passive under his body as he took what he wanted from me. Math tables… math…. ooooohhhhh. My breathing was labored and panting.

“Sasha!”

He lowered himself right to my thighs and I felt a hand at the back of my neck, urging me up. His sensual lips were open in an ‘O’ and he breathed shallowly through his mouth. “I heard you. Through the shield. I heard you trying to get to me.” I lurched my hips up. His voice gave a sweet cry and his head fell back. I sucked at his throat. I bucked up again. I hit that special spot. I knew I did because Sasha hissed as his wings snapped out. I angled to hit his prostate again. Aaahhhhhh

I knew it hurt. The wings hurt like a bitch until I got Liam’s beachside blood. “Fang me. Drink deep, it’ll hurt less when they come out. I promise you, kitty.”

I lost it. Like a teenaged nerd, I just fell apart as his mouth sucked at my neck and his body pulsed around my cock. I reached between us and stroked him. He twisted his head free and gave the most delicious moan as his portal tightened and his hips flexed against me. Those glorious black wings fluttered and twitches…he sounded like I used to. He was a rustle of leaves. He tightened unbearably as his cock erupted in time with my rhythm of life. I gasped. His wings flared up like that trans am logo. Oh thank god, it just wasn’t me.

I pulled him forwards as I fell backwards. He needed to get used to the pull of the muscles on his back now he had beautiful black wings. They were jet but again they had that oil on water look; greens, blues, deep maroon. I reached out and gently pet them. The twitched under my touch. Father’s face was impassive but there was a tightening of skin around the eyes. He was in pain. I urged his head down to me and pressed up a sweet cinnamon kiss to his warm clove lips. “I love you, Winged Carnage.”

There was a slight chuckle into the crook of my neck. “Death from above.”

“I’m going to have to teach you how to fly…well soar. You think it hurts now. Wait until you fly into a building.” Claudius laid his full weight on me. I stroked his hair. Why did the wings want long hair. Was it like the tail of a kite?

“As much as I would like a second helping of my beautiful cinnablue angel…you are getting married in a few hours.”

“Make that distinction, Father. I am not marrying Claudia.”

He pushed himself up into a push up but with our thighs were still pressing warmly against each other.

“What do you have against Claudia?”

I frowned at him, “I have nothing against Claudia. I am just not going to be the one in her bed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am not marrying Claudia. X is. I am not sleeping with Claudia, X is. I don’t know what the hell to do with a girl. I could fake it, but I respect her too much soooo…X is her husband. You are mine. I found my dream, a dream I can call my own. Sasha Wingkitty”

Claudius winced, “You are not calling me Wingkitty.”

“How about my wingman?”

“How about just yours.”

“That works.”

He closed his eyes and I watched fascinated as his breathing slowed and relaxed. The black feathers disappeared in a shimmer of blue glimmer. Damn. I’m good. Sasha in sexual satisfaction. He collapsed on me. I gave a little yip as he wrapped around me and I ended up on top of him. “Thank you, Sex.”

“I am a slut you know.”

“That’s not…”

“I know what you mean…” I untangled myself and sat up shoving my white tendrils off my face. “Alexander. Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Liam.” Claudius sat up.

“Actually I think he’s your father.”

Claudius just stilled. “I know, creepy.”

“Alexander…”

“I have left that name behind, Sex. It is like Edward for you. You could answer to it, but it doesn’t define you. That is the same for me and the name Alexander.” I turned and lowered myself beside him, pressing into his warmth. “Alexander was a terror. He had no scruples or control. He was a creature of sensation. He wasn’t human, he was worse than a beast.”

“Liam said that you could have become Czar of Russia.”

“If Katrina had not have come along…who knows what Alexander might have done. Like attracts like. I had hoodlums around me. I have no doubt I could have created an army of thugs. I coveted everything I saw and when I was big enough, ruthless enough, I took it. I have worked hard at becoming Claudius.”

I turned my face up toward him and was rewarded with a gentle, baby soft kiss. “Absolute power, Sex. I was already corrupt. What would have absolute power done to me? If you came to me when I was Alexander…I shudder to think of it. If I took a male back then, it was for humiliation and pain. Pleasure, love or respect was not part of anything I did. You are so damned beautiful, Sex. You would not have liked me back when I was young and angry.”

“If there is a boy, I want to name him Alexander.”

“Sex.” His voice was just a breath.

“We will give him the chance you never had. I expect his grandfather to hand out correction just as quickly as I get it.”

A hand splayed across my naked chest. “You are unbelievable, Fallen. How big is your heart? It should not fit into this little frame.”

“I love you too, Sasha.” I leaned back against him and just closed my eyes. “I don’t know if you know how much.”

I was enfolded in a tight embrace. “I know, Fallen Angel. Trust me. I know.”